Sophomore season
LAST SEASON WAS REMARKABLE FOR DAK PRESCOTT AND EZEKIEL ELLIOTT. HOW DO THEY TOP IT IN 2017?
For Cowboys’ Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott, the future is what counts.
F RISCO — The “Tale of Dak & Zeke” was a compelling story last season, obviously a thriller for Dallas Cowboys fans but also fascinating for the rest of the NFL. Two rookies — one acclaimed, the other an afterthought — did not simply energize a franchise; they transformed it and made it their own. As rookies, the duo of 23-year-old quarterback Dak Prescott and 21-year-old running back Ezekiel Elliott was dynamic. They compiled impressive statistics, won individual awards and honors and led a team that had been 4-12 the previous season to a 13-3 record. That tied the 1992 and 2007 teams for the best record in franchise history. The season ended with a disappointing playoff loss to Green Bay in the divisional round but with Prescott and Elliott manning the two most important skill positions, there is not even a whiff of pessimism anywhere near the Cowboys. Now, however, their story faces the challenge all would-be best-sellers face — will Chapter 2 be as good as Chapter 1, especially in light of the multi-game suspension for Elliott?
“It was impactful what they did,” offensive coordinator Scott Linehan said. “Dak has all those intangible qualities you’re looking for in a quarterback. He goes out and performs with great energy. (Elliott) just brings it. The way he plays is kind of our identity. It’s physical. They just bring all that youthful energy to the team and I think it ignites our entire team, not just our offense.
“But it doesn’t matter what we did then, it’s all about what we do now. It doesn’t matter whether they exceeded expectations. It’s what they do now. And not just those two. It’s everybody.”
It is a tribute to both that what they did in 2016 is a hard act to follow — even for them.
“You always look at expectations,” tight end Jason Witten said. “But none of those expectations are bigger than what the individuals have themselves, or more than we have for each other. Just embrace them. It’s not going to be easy. There’s going to be adversity. But they’re built for that.”
They certainly were as rookies.
Elliott was the fourth player taken in the draft, so he was expected to have an impact. With his Ohio State pedigree — including two 1,800-yard seasons — and a superior offensive line in Dallas, Elliott was expected to surpass 1,000 yards. But he delivered much more, winning the league rushing title with 1,631 yards. That was 318 yards more than the next leading rusher.
Now though, the 2017 season starts under a cloud due to his domestic violence-related suspension.
Prescott’s football pedigree was far more modest and expectations for him as a rookie were close to non-existent.
Injuries open door
But after injuries to Tony Romo and Kellen Moore, Prescott took over as the starter and led Dallas to 11 victories in its first 12 games and won the starting position. The fourth-round pick’s performance was so stunning across the board — wins, statistics, efficiency and consistency — that when Romo regained his health, he remained on the bench and retired after the season to go into broadcasting.
Prescott was the epitome of consistency. He threw 162 passes before his first interception, which broke the rookie record held by New England’s Tom Brady. Prescott ended the season with only four interceptions in 459 pass attempts. He finished second in the league in interception percentage behind Brady, who threw two in 432 attempts.
Prescott also completed 68 percent of his passes for 3,667 yards and 23 touchdownswith a 104.9 passer rating. That was third-best in the league behind only Atlanta’s Matt Ryan and Brady — the two starting quarterbacks in the Super Bowl.
“Nobody expected Dak to come in and do what he did,” wide receiver Cole Beasley said. “Then he came in with the first team and you knew he had it. He’d have a few practices when he’s off, but once the game starts, he locks in and he’s spot on.
“He’s a gamer. Some guys have that; some guys don’t. So it’s awesome to play with a guy like that.”
Fun factor
The two rookies played at such a high level that an interesting dynamic occurred within the team.
One byproduct of performance is credibility. When a team has players who excel, they become examples. When a player sets a positive example, he becomes a leader. Before Prescott and Elliott, the Cowboys had become a team of veteran leaders. But suddenly, their two best players were in their early 20s. And young guys like to have fun.
Teammates watch as the two prank each other — Elliott shooting spit wads at Prescott during a TV interview; Prescott responding by filling Elliott’s locker full of candy. But the flip side of their youthful silliness is a seriousness about getting better. The two spent ample time together in the offseason, studying game tapes and the playbook, intent on improving.
“Dak has an insatiable appetite to be good,” Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones said. “From the day he walked in, he was studying film and saying ‘How do I get better?’ He started watching everything Tony Romo did. He was emulating him because he wanted to be better.”
Elliott was suspended for six games on Aug. 11, although a successful appeal could reduce the severity of the punishment.
“We believe in Zeke Elliott,” Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said. “We feel very strongly about the kind of person he is and certainly what kind of football player he is. We wouldn’t have drafted him where we drafted him if we didn’t believe that. Having said that, he’s not perfect. He makes mistakes. We all make mistakes.”
Prescott and Elliott had a rookie year they won’t forget. will Chapter 2 be as memorable?